WHAT SPECIALISTS SAID TO THEIR MESH PATIENTS

Here are just some of the dozens of offensive and dismissive comments made to women by their surgeons after life-changing complications from mesh surgery. These comments were sent to campaign group Sling The Mesh in response to our previous feature.

‘WHEN asking the male surgeon about the possibility of mesh surgery causing pain with sex, I was told: “Most women would be glad if they could no longer have sex with their husbands.” ’ ‘FOR a whole year, I was told by my implanting surgeon that the razor blade/hot knife feeling cutting into me was all in my head. Then his registrar discovered that the mesh was cutting into my vaginal wall.’ ‘THE surgeon, a leading urogynaecologist, responded to my complaints about mesh pain by saying, “Don’t worry, you don’t have cancer,” while patting my knee.’ ‘THE surgeon said: “No way is it the mesh; you are reading too much c**p on the internet.” ’ ‘MY SURGEON asked what I was moaning about and said I should be pleased because “you’re like a 21year-old down there now.” ’ ‘MY HUSBAND said it was painful for me during sex. The surgeon winked at him and replied: “Have you tried a**l?” I thought my husband was going to punch him.’ ‘“YOU’RE too old to have pain there.” ’

‘THE surgeon — a female consultant said: “You shouldn’t — rolled her believe eyes and everything you read on the internet. Mesh is perfectly safe.” ‘A SURGEON told me: “In 12 years I have never had anyone else complain so it can’t be the mesh.” That was a blatant lie. Another patient whose complaints had also been ignored was busy putting up warning flyers in the surgeon’s waiting room at the time.’

‘THE surgeon told me: “It’s your menopause, not the mesh.” ’ ‘WHEN we told my surgeon I could no longer have sex because it was too painful, he said I had a duty to

my husband so I should just put up with it. My husband was furious and said: “Do you really think I could enjoy sex knowing my wife is in pain?” ’ ‘I WAS told: “Prescription pads are expensive and patients like you are not worth the cost of a prescription.” ’ ‘THE surgeon suggested I see a shrink because he thought it was all in my head.’

‘A SURGEON said there was nothing there and he could not feel any mesh. I then saw another doctor who straight away could feel the mesh hanging out.’ ‘MY FEMALE implanting surgeon told me she’d never had any problems with any other patients. She then told me it was a skin problem, gave me some cream and discharged me.’

‘THE doctor said: “Off the record, if you complain about this, no one will want to work on you in the future.” ’

‘ “YOU need antidepressants and to

motivate yourself.” ’ ‘MY SURGEON told me he’d previously had only one woman with mesh problems and she was “neurotic”.’ ‘I WAS told: “Surely it’s a good thing when sex hurts a bit.” ’ ‘THE surgeon told me: “Don’t believe everything in the papers. Some women are just after a payout.” ’ ‘WHEN I told the specialist how painful sex was, he said: “Is your husband putting [his penis] in right?” We’ve been married for 36 years.’

‘WHEN I described the pain from my mesh, my surgeon told me: “Chin up and have a glass of prosecco.” ’